ROADSTER

A few weeks ago I was sitting on a plane headed to Dallas, Texas for the GreenFleet Conference sponsored by Bobit Publishing and was reading this article about using data to green your fleet written by Chelsea Mathis.  So if you use company vehicles for your business, consider these tips to green your fleet:

Will you as a business eventually use electric vehicles for delivering services? If your business operates within a metro or specified area then the answer may be yes some day. Right now the range is around 100 miles but eventually will be expanded, most likely to 200 miles. I am referring to all electric, not a combination like the Chevy Volt. President Obama says he wants to see 1 million electric vehicles on the road by the end of 2015. The infrastructure to provide level 2 charging is expanding daily. There are companies that are testing using light to medium duty all electric trucks for delivery in metro areas- it is going to be interesting to watch the progress. It will be worth keeping an eye on.

 

 

 

 

Google and Apple are now becoming targets of cyberattacks as reported in a recent USA Today story.  Google recently removed 25 corrupted applications.  Smartphone usage in the U.S. is growing at a very, very rapid pace.  Be on guard if you are a business and use smartphones...as you need to do with your computers, etc.

A poorly cared for vehicle is not only a safety hazard to your drivers - one that could potentially leave them stranded on the side of the road or hitched to the back of a tow truck - it is a money trap for your business.  Tires not properly inflated, oil that has not been changed in months, low engine coolant, or any other number of easily fixable but often ignored issues can lead to decreased vehicle efficiency and potentially costly repairs.  Here are some simple tips that can help: Read more »

If you are thinking of starting a business or need help with your current business, check out your state government for free business advice on various subjects.

The Daily Metro Fuel Price and National Fuel Price Average if back up and running with daily updates.  Thank you for your patience.

Simply put, flying for business can be a real bear at times.  Really frustrating.  I fly frequently for business.  Sometimes my flights go really well, planes are on schedule and once in a great while I get to my destination ahead of schedule.  But more often than not disaster will strike.  For example, the flight I am about to leave on is delayed two hours due to weather or mechanical failure or whatever. I will miss my connecting flight and will have to go through an airline's rescheduling process (usually lack of process) and wait in long lines.  Sound familiar?  When this happens, I use my backup instead of standing in a long re-ticketing line with angry people.  In my company we use Hurley Travel Experts.  They have saved me from further frustration and anxiety over-and-over again.  I immediately get on the phone with them and they quickly work out alternative travel solutions for me.  It is really great having this support.  Hurley recently got me out of two jams (leaving and returning flights...talk about bad luck) on a recent business trip this past week, and saved me from standing in a long line for probably three hours or better.

In his state of the union address, President Obama put out a challenge to invest in innovation in order to strengthen our recovering economy. And isn't that what small business is all about...innovation and entrepreneurial spirit? Taking a chance...a risk? That's how the company (Wright Express) I work for was built and we have grown consistantly over the years. Innovation is the cornerstone of our business...we encourage it throughout the company, adopting a "fail fast, fail cheap" approach to testing new innovative ideas.

Are you answering the call to build the economy through innovation?

Check out www.eurekaranch.com to learn about ways to integrate innovation into your business.

Shane Wyman, Collections & Recovery Agent II

I apologize for the delay in the update of the Metro Fuel Price Report.  It has not been updated in several days.  I hope to have the situation resolved very soon.  Thank you for your patience.